102. Maddox

ONE HUNDRED TWO

I don't often listen to my little brother, but in this case, I do as he says and pull Hannah back to me. Only this time, I press my lips to hers.

"You're the fucking best," I tell her, with my lips still against hers.

"I didn't do anything. When I got home from work yesterday, they were already decorating them."

"Doesn't matter." I kiss her once more, then let her go.

Waller is leaning over the table, reaching into the container.

I yank it away.

"Hey!" he complains.

"These are mine."

"Max got one," Waller argues.

"That one had Max's number on it." I look over and see Max taking a photo of the cookie.

"We can make more." Hannah tries to pacify me. "I brought these to share."

"Yeah, you should share," Tony says with his mouth full.

When I turn to look, he shoves the last bite of a cookie into his mouth.

"You're such a shady fuck." I narrow my eyes at him.

He lifts his other hand, showing off the second cookie he stole out from under me.

Waller snatches it out of his grip. "Shady fuck for the win."

Hannah places her hand on my thigh. "There's still more at the house."

I hold the container against my body and look down at the little football jersey cookies.

They're good. Like really good. Like this family should've owned a bakery instead of a flower shop.

I take out one with my number on it and hand it to Hannah. "You can have this one."

She smiles at me, and I know she's biting down on a laugh, but I don't care.

No one has ever done anything like this for me before.

I pull out a cookie with a giant heart on it, then set the container down, letting the vultures swoop in for more.

My throat has to work twice as hard to swallow the buttery, sweet cookie.

All of them, Hannah's mom and Hannah's little niece, they've all found their way into my heart. And I'm not letting any of them go.